Adjustable sinker cam assembly for knitting machines



July 29, 1952 M. P. DODDS 2,604,766

ADJUSTABLE SINKER CAM ASSEMBLY FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 29,1949 2 SHEETS-Sl-IEETJ f'f'fri 6 TWA FIG.

IN VEN TOR.

MAX'WELL P. D0005 ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 29; 1952 ADJUSTABLE SINKER CAM ASSEMBLY FOR KNITTINGMACHINES Maxwell P. Dodds, Laconia, N. H., asslgnor to Scott & Williams,Incorporated, Laconia, N. H., a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationApril 29, 1949, Serial No. 90,494

12 Claims. (G1. 66-14) This invention relates to an adjustable sinkercam assembly for knitting machines particularly those of the superposedcylinder type in which the sinker control cams are located within theconfines of one of the cylinders.

In machines of the superposed cylinder type the sinker control cams arerelatively inaccessible, being located within one of the needlecylinders, and adjustment is made difficult. Such adjustments aredesirable to take care of wear on the cams and to vary the depth of theknock-over movement of the sinkers for different size yarns.Furthermore, the removal and replacement of the sinkers which havebecome worn, broken, or otherwise damaged has been, in such machines, adifficult job involving usually removal of a cylinder and disturbance ofany cam adjustments which may have previously been made.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a sinkercam assembly which makes possible the fine adjustment of the sinker camsfor the purpose of securing desired control of the sinker movements.

A further object of the invention relates to the provision of a sinkercam assembly which makes possible the removal and replacement of sinkersin a fashion which will not require the disassociation of the needlecylinders. In particular, such removal and replacement of sinkers is, inaccordance with the invention, accomplished without disturbing theadjustment of the sinker cams.

These and other objects of the invention, particularly relating todetails of construction and operation, will become apparent from thefollowing description read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a generally radial fragmentary section showing the sinkercams and associated parts assembled in the machine, the section beingtaken substantially on the broken surface the trace of which isindicated at I-I in Figure 2; and

Figure 2 is a plan view looking down on the assembly of Figure 1.

The lower needle cylinder of a superposed cylinder type of knittingmachine is indicated at 2 and is provided with slots 4 for the receptionof double-ended needles and lower controlling sliders, there beingindicated at 6 the upper cylinder assembly which, as usual, iscorrespondingly slotted for the needles and their upper controllingsliders. These cylinders and various parts assembled therewith areconventional and need not be particularly described. As indicated, onlya limited space exists between the cylinders, rendering inaccessible theparts within the lower cylinder. As will presently appear, theconstruction which is provided permits removal and replacement ofsinkers through this space between the cylinders, making it possible toelTect such removal and replacement without removing the upper cylinderto provide any additional clearance.

A sinker ring of generally conventional type is indicated at 8, thissinker ring being slotted at III for the reception and guidance of thearcuate sinkers I2 which are conventional and which move between theneedles in the usual fashion in the knitting operations. These sinkersI2 are provided with butts I4.

A sinker cup I6 is externally threaded at its lower end, as indicated atI8, for the reception of a nut 20. This nut is adapted to bear upon theinwardly directed flange 22 of the sinker sleeve 24. The outwardlydirected flange 26 of. the sinker cup I6 extends over the annularshoulder 28 of the sinker ring 8. Between the sinker ring 8 and theupper end of the sinker sleeve there is a thrust ring 30. The sinkerring 8 is keyed to the needle cylinder at 32.

The sinker cup I6 is provided with an annular shoulder at 25 so thatwhen the nut 20 is tightened the sinker cup I6 will be clamped to theinwardly directed flange 22 of the sinkersleeve. Under these conditionsthe sinker ring 8 will be free-running between the flange 26 and thethrust ring 30. The sinker sleeve 24, the sinker cup I6 and the nut 20are stationary and supported by the frame at the lower end of the sinkersleeve 24 in conventional fashion. 7

The upper sinker cam ring 34 has a lower cam surface 36 cooperating withthe sinker butts I4, and the lower sinker cam ring 38 has a cam surface40 also cooperating with these butts. The cam race which is providedbetween these cam surfaces is conventional and need not be described indetail. The cam surfaces impart the usual movements to the sinkers.Between the cam rings 34 and -38 there is located a spacer ringindicated at 42. This ring holds the two cam rings in fixed spacedrelationship to each other. A plurality of slots 44, in this case three,are provided in the sinker cup for the reception of keys 46 which arereceived in slots 45 in the spacer 42, slots 48 in the lower cam ring38, and in slots 49 in the inner flange of the sinker sleeve 24, beingheld therein by screws 50 provided with lock washers 52. The slots 44,48 and 49 associated with one of these keys are accurately cut to fitthe width of that key so as to maintain the keyed parts in accuratelyfixed circumferential relationship. The slots for the other keys mayprovide larger clearances with respect to the keys so as to.. avoid,binding in assembly, these other keys being provided merely to limitupward movements of the sinker cams, as will be presently described.

Each of the keys 46 is provided with an outwardly directed ear 5|overlying an inwardlyfdirected flange on the lower cam ring 38.

A group of sockets 54, six in vnumber in the present machine, areprovided in. the sinker sleeve 24 for the reception of strong helicalspring 56 which urge the lower cam ring 38 upwardly and with it thespacer 42 and the upper cam ring 34. Threaded into the sinker cup l6 arescrews 58, three in number, which have rounded lowervends engagingwithin sockets 60 ,lintheflupperucam ring; Adjacent to these screwsMaren-screws 62 which pass through countersunk .holesin .thelsinker cupand are threaded into .tappedopenings' 64 in the ,upper cam ring.

.' As-willnow be. apparent the vertical position of ispacerl42, thelower cam;ring'being fixed cir-- cumferentially by the tight-fitting key46.

l It will be evident from the 'foregoingthat the scams-race,receivinglthe sinkerbutts 14 may be ,yery accurately positionedvertically and, de-

lperiding.-upon .its verticalposition, will variably- ..controlltheextent of the knock-over movements .rofatheisinkers. A. substantialrange of adjustment isprovided but,'generally speaking-only a:smalllrange is required to provide adequate ad- ;justment oi thesinkerbutt race within the range. The strong springs S B-provide duringoperation a ,substantiallyirigid. assembly after adjustment is(affected.

;The removal of 'thGLSlIlkBIS may be effected as Iollows: Aswthelnut 20,is. freed thepsinker cup [6 will be "forced upwardly and with it the camrings 34- and l. 38..and .the-spacer142, by the action of the springs56, the upward movement being limited by en- ,gagement of the inwardlydirected flange of the cam ring-33 with the ears 51 ,of the keys 48..Under. these conditions the lower cam surface 35 of the uppercam ringwill, in the vicinity of the main feed position whereat the sinkers havetheir ,outermostposition, clear the'butts I4 of the sinkvers sothat theymay be withdrawn by arcuate movements ,through the slots IE! and may bevsimilarlyreplaced. Due to the fact that they ,.may,bethus removed andthe fact that the sinker cup. need not be'lifted .to any'substantialextent ,itiisunnecessaryto remove the upper cylinder inveffecting-sinker. replacement. It will be noted that the positioningofthe parts as just mentioned does notdisturb the adjusted and setposibtion of thecam'ring-M, and when the parts are :restored tooperating: position by the tightening up of thenut 20 the cam race willbe precisely docated inits original adjusted position. Accordingly, theentire operation of replacing sinkers is greatly simplified ascontrasted with the operation involved in the case of priorconstructions which required very considerable dismantling of the majorparts with the necessity for readjusting the sinker cams as a final stepin putting the machine back into operation.

It will be clear that various details of construction involved may bemodified without departing from the invention as defined in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:

.l. In'.a*knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, meansmounting arcuate .sinkers within oneof said cylinders, means providing acamrace for butts on the sinkers, a memberlhavingan axially fixedposition within the last mentioned cylinder, and means for"axially-adjusting said cam race providing means with respect to saidmember while maintaining the width of said cam race, so that movementsof thesinkers relative to the needles may be varied.

2."In a knitting machine of thesuperposed needle cylinder type, meansmounting arcuate sinkers :withinone of said cylinders, means providing acam race for butts on'the sinkers, a member having an'axially fixedposition within the last mentioned cylinder, and means for axiallyadjusting said. cam race providing means with respect to said member sothat movements of the sinkers relative to the needles may be varied,said means. for adjusting including a plurality of screws threaded intosaid member and bearing against said cam'race providing means and meansfor binding the last mentioned means against the screws.

.3. Ina knittingmachine of the superposed needle cylinder type, meansmounting arcuate sinkers within one of said cylinders, means'providing acam race for butts on the sinkers, a member having an axially fixedposition within the last-mentioned cylinder, said cam race'providingmeans'including elements providing upper .and lower cams and spacingmeans for said ele- 'ments, and means yieldingly urging said elementsand spacing means together and to a predetermined'position relative tosaid axially fixed member. '4. In a knitting machine of the superposeneedle cylinder type, means mounting arcuate sinkers within one of saidcylinders, means providing a cam race for butts on the sinkers, a memberhaving an axially fixed position within the last mentioned cylinder,said cam race providing means including elements providing upper andlower cams and spacing means for said elements, means yieldingly urgingsaid elements and spacing means together and to a predetermined positionrelative to said axially fixed member, and means for adjusting saidpredetermined position.

5. In a knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, meansmounting arcuate sinkers within one of said cylinders, means providing acam race for butts on the sinkers, a member having, normally, an axiallyfixed position within the last mentioned cylinder, means for locatingsaid cam race providing means in predetermined position relative to saidmember, and means for effecting axial movement of said member and thecam race providing means therewith to locate said race in position toclear the sinker butts so that the sinkers may be removed from theirmounting means by arcuate movements.

6. In a knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, meansmounting arcuate sinkers within one of said cylinders, means providing acam race for butts on the sinkers, a member having, normally, an axiallyfixed position within the last mentioned cylinder, means for locatingsaid cam race providing means in predetermined position relative to saidmember, and spring means for effecting axial movement of said member andthe cam race providing means therewith to locate said race in positionto clear the sinker butts so that the sinkers may be removed from theirmounting means by arcuate movements.

7. In a knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, meansmounting arcuate sinkers within one of said cylinders, means providing acam race for butts on the sinkers, a member having, normally, an axiallyfixed position within the last mentioned cylinder, means for axiallyadjusting said cam race providin means relatively tosaid member, andmeans for effecting axial movement of said member and the cam raceproviding means therewith, without disturbing the relationship betweenthe cam race providing means and said member, to locate said race inposition to clear the sinker butts so that the sinkers may be removedfrom their mounting means by arcuate movements.

8. In a knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, meansmounting arcuate sinkers within one of said cylinders, means :providinga cam race for butts on the sinkers, a member having, normally, anaxially fixed position within the last mentioned cylinder, means foraxially adjusting said cam race providing means relatively to saidmember, and spring means for effecting axial movement of said member andthe cam race providing means therewith, without disturbing therelationship between the cam race providing means and said member, tolocate said race in position to clear the sinker butts so that thesinkers may be removed from their mounting means by arcuate movements.

9. In a knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, meansmounting arcuate sinkers within one of said cylinders, means providing acam race for butts on the sinkers, a member having, normally, an axiallyfixed position within the last mentioned cylinder, means for locatingsaid cam race providing means in predetermined position relative to saidmember, means for effecting axial movement of said member and the camrace providing means therewith to locate said race in position to clearthe sinker butts so that the sinkers may be removed from 6 theirmounting means by arcuate movements, and means limiting axial movementof said member.

10. In a knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, meansmounting arcuate 'sinkers within one of said cylinders, means providinga cam race for butts on the sinkers, a member having, normally, anaxially fixed position within the last mentioned cylinder, means forlocating said cam race providing means in predetermined positionrelative to said member, spring means for effecting axial movement ofsaid member and the cam race providing means therewith to locate saidrace in position to clear the sinker butts so that the sinkers may beremoved from their mounting means by arcuate movements, and meanslimiting axial movement of said member.

11. In a knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, aslotted member mounting arcuate sinkers within one of said cylinders,means providing a cam race for butts on the sinkers, said member havinga portion extending radially inwardly beyond the sinkers, and meansengaging said portion for fixing the axial position of said member, saidengaging means having a running fit with said portion.

12. In a knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, aslotted member mounting arcuate sinkers within one of said cylinders,means providing a cam race for butts on the sinkers, said member havinga portion extending radially inwardly beyond the sinkers, means engagingsaid portion for fixing the axial position of said member, and means foraxially adjusting said cam race providing means so that move-- ments ofthe sinkers relative to the needles may be varied.

MAXWELL P. DODDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,986,317 Bentley et al Jan. 1,1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 429,056 Great Britain May 23,1935 504,669 Great Britain Apr. 28, 1939

